Compass Housing Services along with business, community and political leaders and the media, attended a briefing on the Affordable Living in Sustainable Cities Congress yesterday.
In a coup for the region, Compass Housing is bringing the Affordable Living in Sustainable Cities international congress, to Newcastle in November. The congress will be jointly convened by the New Urban Agenda (NUA) Standing Conference and by EAROPH as its 2018 World Congress.
Congress organising chairman, Compass Housing’s Professor David Adamson OBE, said the congress will feature national and world experts on implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the New Urban Agenda, the outcome document from the UN Habitat lll Conference held in Quito in 2016.
Key note speakers include:
- Senator Claire Moore, shadow minister for International Development and the Pacific
- Yb Puan Hajah Zuraida Bindi Kamaruddin, Minister for Housing and Local Government, Malaysia
- Peter Cuming, MD, Sustainable Futures Australia, Collaborative Planning for Sustainable Futures, Leadership by Local, Regional and State Authorities
- Michael Nolan, director United Nations Global Compact-Cities Programme
- Karabaiti Taoboa, Pacific director, Commonwealth Local Government Association
- Professor Ralph Horne, RMIT University
- Prof Will Rifkin, chair in applied regional economics, Hunter Research Foundation, University of Newcastle
- Katherine O’Regan, ED, Cities Leadership Institute
- Mark Glover, CEO, Australian Industrial Ecology Network
- Mizuo Kishita, Urban Public Design Centre, Japan
- Syarifah Nuraida Tuan Mohd Apandi, Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Malaysia
- Wan Nur Amirah Binti, Wan Yahya, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia
- Jenny Hayward, senior research scientist, CSIRO
- Associate Professor Graham Brewer, executive director, CIFAL Newcastle
Professor Adamson said the congress will showcase existing and planned actions that support the achievement of the SDGS and NUA. He said a key objective is to develop synergy between these two critically important frameworks. Congress themes cover the full range of Sustainable Development Goals and address social issues such as housing, poverty, health and hunger as well as physical issues in the urban environment such as water, sanitation, transport and energy.
“These two agreements are closely connected; the NUA is the delivery vehicle for implementing SDGs in urban settlements.”
“There are 17 SDGs that commit nations to ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all.”
“Australian cities are not affordable or sustainable, so it is vital that we work together on solutions.”
Professor Adamson said hosting the Congress was a coup for a regional centre such as Newcastle bringing a boost to the region’s economy. More than 300 delegates from around Australia are expected to attend the Newcastle Congress as well as some international dignitaries.
Today’s launch will outline work being done by local organisations that are already implementing SDGs into their planning. City of Newcastle has incorporated the SDGs into its community strategic plan. Hunter Water has adopted the SDGs, aligning them with its 2017+3 Strategy.
Hunter Water’s managing director Jim Bentley said Hunter Water was proud to support the NUA Congress.
“As an enabler of the sustainable growth of the Lower Hunter, we have a key role to play as a partner in delivering good development,” Mr Bentley said.
“The NUA Congress provides a unique opportunity to bring together international thought leaders and to showcase the leadership of our region in delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda,” he said.
The Congress will be held at City Hall from November 1 to 2. It is being supported by local organisations including City of Newcastle and Hunter Water, as well as RMIT University and the Global Cities Compact Committee. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. The first NUA Congress held in Melbourne in May 2017 attracted 240 delegates from 11 countries.
Australia is one of 193 nations to adopt the 2015 SDGs and one of 167 signatory nations to the NUA.
For more information about the conference visit www.nuaconference.com
